Real Madrid beats Espanyol 3-0 in Spanish league

“It was an unusual game, we were a man down from the first half onward,” said Barcelona's Gabriel Milito. “But we're happy with the result, despite the penalty at the end.”

Messi nearly scored again in the 16th when he managed to control the ball yet could manage only a weak shot.

Two minutes later he threatened again after swapping passes with Maxwell and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, although goalkeeper Jordi Codina got a foot to his strike.

With the goal lead and control of possession, Barcelona looked comfortable. However, the champions suffered a setback in the 25th when defender Gerard Pique was ejected for a late tackle on Getafe's Rafael Lopez. Xavi Hernandez was booked for dissent after a lengthy protest by Barcelona's players.

With Getafe seeing more of the ball, Nicolas “Miku” Ladislao drew two fine saves in a row from Victor Valdes.

Barcelona struck back when Ibrahimovic rounded Codina and his goalbound shot from a tight angle on the right was just intercepted by Lopez.

Early in the second half Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola bolstered the midfield to make up for the numerical disadvantage, replacing Ibrahimovic, who has not scored in the last five league games, with Sergio Busquets.

Seydou Keita should have scored soon after, shooting wide after he went through with only Codina to beat from close range.

At Valencia's Mestalla Stadium, Ever Banega found space on the edge of the area and shot into the top left-hand corner in the eighth.

Banega was involved in the second goal, crossing to David Villa who found the net with a powerful header in the 30th.

Valencia always looked in control, with Jeremy Mathieu on the left flank unsettling the Valladolid defense early on. In the 17th, goalkeeper Justo Villar made a fine save from Juan Manuel Mata following a cross by the French defender. Mathieu then shot high a minute later.

Diego Costa was Valladolid's biggest threat and he stole the ball in the 58th following a defensive mix-up from Valencia and goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez was forced to run out to block.

Four minutes later Villa nearly scored his second, striking the post from Mata's pass.

On Sunday it's: Athletic Bilbao vs. Xerez; Malaga vs. Deportivo La Coruna; Osasuna vs. Tenerife; Mallorca vs. Villarreal; Zaragoza vs. Sevilla; Almeria vs. Sporting Gijon; and Racing Santander vs. Atletico Madrid.

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